What Is NHS Clawback in a Dental Practice?
NHS Clawback is the repayment of funds triggered when a dental practice fails to meet its contracted UDA targets under an NHS contract in England or Wales.
If your delivered UDAs fall short of the annual agreement, NHS England will recover a portion of the paid income — either as a lump sum or through monthly deductions in the next financial year.
Why NHS Clawback Matters for Dental Practice Owners
Clawbacks can be financially and emotionally painful — especially when:
- The UDA shortfall is discovered after the financial year ends
- There’s no cash reserved to repay it
- You’ve already distributed or drawn the income
- The accountant didn’t warn you in advance
Example:
You’re contracted to deliver 6,000 UDAs but only hit 5,100.
→ At £28 per UDA, the shortfall = 900 UDAs
→ NHS Clawback = £25,200 — payable within the next year.
If unplanned, that can cause overdrafts, panic pay cuts, or tax trouble.
Common Causes of NHS Clawback
| Reason | Description |
| Underperformance | Not delivering enough UDAs within the contract year |
| Associate Absence | Sickness, maternity, or holidays without cover |
| Poor Forecasting | No monthly UDA tracking or performance reviews |
| NHS Pricing Confusion | Misalignment between UDA values and actual delivery |
| Overdrawn Profits | Taking income before verifying delivery |
DentPulse tracks UDAs, flags early warnings, and protects cash ahead of time.
How DentPulse Helps You Prepare for NHS Clawback
| Feature | Function |
| CFFP™ – Cash Flow Future Pairing | Forecasts upcoming clawback liabilities and timing |
| 12-Week Buffer Monitor | Ensures cash is set aside for known liabilities |
| Associate UDA Tracker | Live UDA delivery per associate vs. target |
| PPP™ Overlay | Reduces drawings when future clawbacks are forecast |
| Tax & Timing Alerts | Prepares for clawback, tax, and refund risks simultaneously |
DentPulse protects your profit from being accidentally overdrawn — before clawbacks arrive.
DentPulse Tip™
Never treat NHS money as “yours” until UDAs are fully delivered.
DentPulse shows your earned vs received NHS income — so you never mistake a loan for profit.
Related Glossary Terms
- CFFP™ – Cash Flow Future Pairing – Ensures future liabilities don’t crash today’s cash
- Deferred Income – Uncompleted treatment held as a liability
- 12-Week Cash Buffer – Ensures shockproof liquidity
- PTP™ – Profit-to-Pocket – Blocks drawings when future clawbacks threaten
- UDA Forecasting – Projects if you’ll hit contract by year-end
Glossary Summary Table
| Term | Meaning |
| NHS Clawback | Repayment of NHS funds when contracted UDAs are under-delivered |
| Trigger | Not meeting your annual NHS contract UDA quota |
| Impact | Loss of income, cash flow stress, delayed drawings |
| DentPulse Advantage | Tracks UDAs, forecasts clawbacks, protects cash and take-home income |
